Moses Cleavland Passes Away

Today in Masonic history Moses Cleavland passes away in 1806.

Moses Cleaveland was an American politician, lawyer, solider and surveyor.

Cleaveland was born on January 29th, 1754 in Canterbury, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale in 1777 during the American Revolution. Cleaveland joined the 2nd Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Army as an Ensign after graduating.

In 1779 he was given command over a group of combat engineers nicknamed "sappers and miners". By 1781 he had resigned from the military and opened a law practice in Canterbury, Connecticut.

In 1788 Cleaveland was a member of the Connecticut convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution. Shortly after he was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly. In 1796 Cleaveland was commissioned as a brigadier general in the Connecticut Militia.

Also in 1796 Cleaveland setup with a party from Schenectady, New York for the Western Reserve, also referred to as New Connecticut since it was reserved to Connecticut by Congress. The area was in what is now northeastern Ohio.

Cleaveland party consisted of about 50 people some traveling by land and the rest traveling by water. When the party reached Buffalo they were met by representatives from the Mohawk nation and Seneca Tribe. Both claimed ownership of the land. Cleaveland negotiated with the both parties to allow his party access to the Western reserve.

On arriving in the Western Reserve Cleaveland and his team began surveying the land. On July 22, 1796 the party found themselves at the head of the Cuyahoga River. Going ashore, Cleaveland stood looking at a plain with luxuriant forest growth declared that the site where he stood was a favorable spot for a city. The first year there were only 4 settlers in Cleaveland, by 1820 it had grown to 150 inhabitants.

After Cleaveland finished the survey he went back to Connecticut and never returned to Ohio. He passed away on November 16th, 1806 in Canterbury, Connecticut.

Cleaveland was initiated into a military lodge and was Worshipful Master of Moriah Lodge in Connecticut.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.